Blago lawyer: Question Obama top aides

SPRINGFIELD, Ill., Dec. 26 (UPI) -- The Illinois House committee investigating Gov. Rod Blagojevich should question aides to President-elect Barack Obama, the governor's lawyer said Friday.

Ed Genson asked the committee considering Blagojevich's possible impeachment to subpoena Rahm Emanuel, the Illinois congressman tapped to be Obama's White House chief of staff, and Valerie Jarrett, named as a senior White House adviser, Politico reported.

Genson said that Emanuel and Jarrett would confirm Blagojevich's claim that he was just talking big in obscenity-laced phone calls caught by government wiretaps.

U.S. Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald has charged Blagojevich with corruption, including trying to sell Obama's former Senate seat to the highest bidder.

Obama's transition team released a report of its internal investigation, which found no wrongdoing by Obama or his close associates.

Earlier this week, Fitzgerald urged the Illinois House committee to shift its focus to areas not involved in his criminal investigation.